Edpuzzle
What is Edpuzzle?
Edpuzzle is a multimedia application that allows teachers to share interactive videos with their students. They have the option of choosing videos from popular sites such as YouTube, National Geographic, Khan Academy, Ted Talks, etc. or they can create their own videos to share with their students. With Edpuzzle, teachers can make the video pause at various points so students can answer comprehension questions. Teachers can create their own questions or use ones that were pre-made. Once students have been assigned a video, teachers can also track which students have watched it, what their answers were, and what their total score was.
Multimedia Learning Principles
The following multimedia learning principles are utilized in Edpuzzle:
- Multimedia principle- Edpuzzle uses videos that combine words and pictures to improve learning.
- Modality principle- Instructors can share videos with students that use narration.
- Signalling principle- Edpuzzle pauses videos to give students a clear signal that key information is being presented.
- Segmented principle- This is the most prominent learning principle used by Edpuzzle because it is the main feature of the app. Students are able to watch the videos at a pace that best suits them, and the videos are broken up into segments so that students can learn the concepts in reasonable chunks. Many teachers will have students watch an entire video and then ask them comprehension questions at the end. However, I believe this method is less effective because the information will likely get jumbled in the students’ minds when shown all at once, compared to the organized segments used in Edpuzzle.
Functionality
I would definitely describe Edpuzzle as being user-friendly because it gives clear instructions on how to navigate the app, and it has a help centre that breaks down each function of the app. It uses various forms of communication through interactive videos (i.e. audio, visual, textual), making it inclusive for different types of learners.
Privacy, Data protection, and Rights
As quoted on the Edpuzzle website:
“Edpuzzle is fully FERPA and COPPA compliant and has earned the recognition from iKeepSafe, an experienced privacy protection organization. Consistent with the requirements of FERPA and COPPA, Edpuzzle is also a signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge, intended to safeguard students’ privacy.”
Mobile Design
Edpuzzle has a mobile design for smaller screens that is very clean and organized. It has been formatted to look appealing on both the mobile browser and on the mobile app (both of which are free to use).
Personal Experience
In my personal experience with using Edpuzzle, I have found it to be a great tool for assessing my students’ comprehension of a video. I find that it encourages active listening because the students know they will be asked questions throughout the video. I also like how Edpuzzle breaks up the videos into smaller segments because this helps students maintain focus for longer. From an instructor’s perspective, Edpuzzle is very beneficial because it allows teachers to track which students have watched the videos and how many times they have watched each section. Edpuzzle also encourages self-paced learning. I believe this is far more effective than whole-class instruction because we all learn at different speeds. Expecting students to learn concepts at the same pace is unrealistic because they all have unique zones of proximal development. This technique will cause many students to either fall behind or be held back from reaching their full potential. When we allow students to learn at their own pace, they are more invested in the learning process. I highly recommend Edpuzzle to teachers who want to use an exceptional multimedia app that will transform their students’ learning experience at home and in the classroom.
References
Anstey, L., & Watson, G. (2018, September 18). A Rubric for Evaluating E-Learning Tools in Higher Education. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2018/9/a-rubric-for-evaluating-e-learning-tools-in-higher-education
Edpuzzle. (2020). Retrieved from https://edpuzzle.com/home
Edpuzzle. [Edpuzzle]. (2020, March 13). What is Edpuzzle? [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L62wAxCzEM
Good job!